What notice takes precedence? (Hard copy letter/email update)

[BlueDevil 61]

So here's the situation regarding my I-130 that has been stuck in initial review...

I received an I-797C info notice in the mail (notice dated 11/18/13) stating that my case had been transferred to the Texas Service Center for processing due to the backlog at NBC.

Here's the problem ... I also received two emails from the USCIS on 11/19/13. The first one said that my case "was transferred and is now being processed at a USCIS office." The second email received a few hours later on the same day said that "On November 18, 2013, we transferred your I130, IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN, to your local USCIS Office for further processing."

For what its worth, the case status online states that it has been transferred to the local USCIS office as well.

So now I have no idea where my case has been transferred to. Memphis is my local office. What notice/email should take precedence? Common sense would say that the hard copy notice should take precedence, but I have found with this whole process that common sense is thrown out the window!

Thank you for your comments...

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Hard copy, always.

[BlueDevil 61]

Hard copy, always.

Thanks, Harpa! That will make my case much easier since my 485 filing is sitting at TSC, so combining the two will be a much simpler process!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

BlueDevil,

You are hoping that a work-based I-485 can be attached to a I-130 for relative?

No, no, it can't.

When you filed the I-485 you checked a box for work-based. Now you need to submit a I-485 with the box checked for family-based.

Had you done that you would have had your GC long ago, like in July.

[BlueDevil 61]

BlueDevil,

You are hoping that a work-based I-485 can be attached to a I-130 for relative?

No, no, it can't.

When you filed the I-485 you checked a box for work-based. Now you need to submit a I-485 with the box checked for family-based.

Had you done that you would have had your GC long ago, like in July.

Harpa,

Are you sure on that? Interfiling is a fairly common practice I thought, and doing so saves on a new 485 filing and associated fees. Here is an article from Murthy.com's website speaking to this issue. My coporate lawyers also didn't mention anything about it not being an option. I'm pretty sure I remember reading up on this subject in the field adjudicator's field manual as well, though it might take me some time to find that section again,

http://www.murthy.com/2013/08/05/interfiling-new-immigrant-petition-into-pending-i-485-case-2-of-2/

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Harpa,

Are you sure on that? Interfiling is a fairly common practice I thought, and doing so saves on a new 485 filing and associated fees. Here is an article from Murthy.com's website speaking to this issue. My coporate lawyers also didn't mention anything about it not being an option. I'm pretty sure I remember reading up on this subject in the field adjudicator's field manual as well, though it might take me some time to find that section again,

http://www.murthy.com/2013/08/05/interfiling-new-immigrant-petition-into-pending-i-485-case-2-of-2/

I am not 100% sure, but I have never heard of it, and it seems rather backward.

From reading your link, the law office says it is not officially on the books and USCIS may or may not do it, so it sounds like a crapshoot.

Best of luck, I suppose. Though you could have had a GC by now, had you paid for a new I-485.

[BlueDevil 61]

I am not 100% sure, but I have never heard of it, and it seems rather backward.

From reading your link, the law office says it is not officially on the books and USCIS may or may not do it, so it sounds like a crapshoot.

Best of luck, I suppose. Though you could have had a GC by now, had you paid for a new I-485.

Well, I really did look long and hard at a fresh application altogether. There some pros and some cons to it (additional $1000 in fees vs. time saved). I have an H1-B visa and a stable/secure job so I could afford to wait the extra few months that an interfiled application is taking. So, I figured I'd save on the fees and just let it ride this way. My lawyers have processed a few cases similar to mine and they don't see any issues being just the additional time that this process will take. Either way, you can use me as the guinea pig for this process

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Well, I really did look long and hard at a fresh application altogether. There some pros and some cons to it (additional $1000 in fees vs. time saved). I have an H1-B visa and a stable/secure job so I could afford to wait the extra few months that an interfiled application is taking. So, I figured I'd save on the fees and just let it ride this way. My lawyers have processed a few cases similar to mine and they don't see any issues being just the additional time that this process will take. Either way, you can use me as the guinea pig for this process

I will watch and learn